Context-specific Design Methods and Techniques for Developing Mixed Reality Retail Store Environments

The field of mixed reality (MR) is bringing new opportunities for retail environments. This research examines how MR can be used to layer retail store environments with virtual media to create new blended affordances. To achieve this it proposes a context-specific design (CSD) approach, a Spatial Co-Location technique, an MR Spatial Zoning Taxonomy and adopts architectural design methods. Using the Research-through-Design (RtD) methodology, the study develops a room-scale MR prototype comprising of four components: Browsing Shelf, Customization Shelf, Wrist Cart, and Augmented Ceiling-MR Skylight, for MR retail store environments.